Self-closing faucet



(No Model.)

T. HALEY.

SELF GLOSING FAUCET.

.577. Patented June 9, 1885.

INVENTUH WITNEEEEE i M WM rrrrnn Smarts arnnrr rrrcn.

THOMAS HALEY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SELF-CLOSING FAUCET.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,577, dated June 9,18485. Application filed March 20, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS HALEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Gan1- bridge, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Self-0losingFaucets, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectionthrough a self-closing faucet constructed in accordance with myinvention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the valve-stem and its handle. Fig.3 is a section on the line as a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a plan of thedisk through which the valve-stem passes. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionthrough the center of the disk on the line 3 y of Fig. 4-.

My invention relates to certain improvements in self-closing faucets;and it consists in a novel construction and combination of parts,whereby a smooth and easy action is secured, the friction and wearreduced to a minimum, and the working parts rendered accessible toenable them to be easily taken apart or put together, as hereinaftermore particularly set forth.

In the said drawings, A represents the shell of the faucet, which is ofthe ordinary construction, having the inlet 1), outlet 0, andvalveopening (Z.

To a seat on the upper side of the said opening d is fitted the valve B,which is rigidly secured to the lower end of the stem or spindle D,which passes centrally through the top of a cap, G, screwed at e to theupper vertical portion, a, of the shell A, and is provided at its upperend With a cross-bar or handle, H, by which it may be convenientlyturned.

At the top of the cap G is a stuffing-box, f, the follower g of which isscrewed into the packing-chamber from the inside of the cap, as seen inFig. 1.

A portion of the length of the stem or spindle D is provided with aseries of spiral grooves, t, of semicircular form in cross-see tion, andthis grooved portion passes through a central aperture, 70, in a movabledisk, I, the said aperture is having a series of spiral ribs orprojections, Z, Figs. 4 and 5, which fit into the correspondi ng groovesi of the stem D.

The interior of the upper portion of the shell A is enlarged, forming ashoulder, m, on which rests the disk I, made of such thickness as toproject slightly above the upper edge of the shell, whereby, when thecap G is tightly screwed down, the disk I will be confined immovably inplace between the shoulder at of the shell and the shoulder a on theinside of the cap, which bears on the disk around its entire edge.

19 is a stiff spiral spring which encircles the stem D between the valve13 and the disk I, and serves to hold the valve firmly down upon itsseat.

When the handle H is turned in the proper direction, the stem D, throughthe action of its spiral grooves 41 on the spiral ribs or projections Zof the disk I, will be raised, thus lifting the valve B from its seatagainst the resistance of the spring 2), which will instantly close thevalve on the release of the handle,

and by thus securing the disk I between the cap G and the top of theshell A it can be turned on its vertical axis and so adjusted as tocause the cross-bar or handle H to assume any desired position when thevalve is closed, this horizontal adjustment of the disk enabling thehandle H to be so set that astick or other article could not be placedbetween it and an adjacent wall or vertical surface to hold the faucetopen,as often occurs with self-closing faucets of the ordinaryconstruction where no special regard is had to the position of thehandle when the valve is closed.

By providing the stern D with a series of spiral grooves fitting aseriesof corresponding ribs in the disk I, as shown, instead of employing aquick screw-thread, as heretofore, a great advantage is gained, as thespiral grooves and projections present smooth rounded surfaces, whichwill not stick or catch, and will always work freely and smoothlytogether,

thus reducing the friction and Wear to a minimum, and insuring thefaucet always remaining closed when not in use, while the spiral groovesand projections can be produced at much less expense than screw-threads,as the parts to which they are applied can be easily 5 ally therefrom.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a selfelosing. faucet, the shell A, provided with screw-threads, towhich is secured -10 the cap, the correspondingly screw-threaded cap G,the stationary disk I, rigidly secured between the shell and cap, andprovided at its center with an aperture the inner face of which hassemicircular projections,which fitbetween corresponding projections on astem, in comr5 bination with the stem D, which reciprocates verticallyas the valve opens and closes, the valve 13, rigidly secured to the stemD, and the spiral spring between the valve B and the disk I,substantially as and for the purposes set 20 forth.

Witness my hand this 17th day of March, A. 1885.

THOMAS HALEY.

In presence oi P. E. TESCHEMAOHER, W. J. CAMBRIDGE.

